𝘾𝙀𝙊. - 𝘾𝙀𝙊 𝙓 𝙍𝙀𝘼𝘿𝙀𝙍

15.

━━━

I do believe there is a bond between him and I.

The type that lingers within the air, even when we part ways. 

A sense of calmness, and genuine consideration. 

To hold every conversation with mutual respect, to look into each other's eyes and see ourselves as beings past the formal titles we hold; barriers. 

'CEO'.

'Secretary'.

Those words vanish as those ice-blue eyes meet mine. 

Because we are more than such titles, more than the responsibilities we upkeep.

Nonetheless, by the sight of others, there cannot be a single moment of those titles vanishing. 

It is private. A personal bond. And I am completely aware of the social consequences I'd face if I were to deviate from how he and I view each other formally. 

━━━

"fourteen days. Pack, prepare, and we will fly within the morning."

I stand, rigid, with the mental lack to either process or comprehend the words leaving Mr Dosteovsky. 

So sudden, too sudden. 

The pearls he'd bought me have worn every day since. And why wouldn't I? He bought them for me. 

Him. 

And I could not bear to let them sit to collect dust; shameful.

He has seemed quite pleased to see me wear them, which only layers to the emotions coating me with every glance. 

He can both view and sense the lack of understanding I carry with meek shoulders, the rapid blinking, my pounding heart. 

His thumbs spin around one another, yet there is a difference. 

By the way he twiddles his thumb, to how I do.

He oozes of confidence. 

Well-earned, hard-work-deserved confidence. A man so self-assured, not a single act of what would be described as a sign of low self-esteem truly displays itself to be as such.

He does it out of pondering thought; investigation. 

And he is visually interrogating me in any way he possibly can. 

"Are you alright, Miss Y/N?" He questions by my tense silence.

His head tilts by his words. 

My lids flutter upwards, widening in observance. 

"I-..." My words choke, a wave of confusion washing over me. 

"I-...I-I don't, um, under-understand," 

This had already been a stress-packed day within the workplace today, and for him to drop this upon me in such short notice has only layered my mind with mounds upon mounds of new schedule alterations to consider.

"I will try to explain this simply... I know it's a lot to take in. As you know, Slava Corporations is an Eastern Europe-based business, as it's a business begun by my own hands. And because of that, and also the fact that the main business building is here, within New York, it's quite necessary for me to take business travel across those areas for things such as sealing deals face-to-face with other businessmen, networking opportunities, such and such. Do you understand?"